Compare towns
Eliot vs Holderness vs Kennebunk vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Eliot | Holderness | Kennebunk | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,917Lowest |
11,820 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #9 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Holderness School District | RSU 21 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.